Executive Director Of Cimag Albert Derrick Fiatui Left And Acting Director Natural Resources Epa Jewel Kudjawu Right
“If you go to Nungua, there is a gutter that connect through Regional Maritime University to the sea. You will be shocked to find nose masks, refrigerators, lorry tires and all forms of plastics. The danger is that when they go in the sea, the fish ingest them, and we in turn consume those fishes and they pose a danger to us. The newer diseases, the cancers could be attributed to some of these things.”
He also bemoaned the ongoing use of mangrove resources for domestic and commercial use by some indigenes of coastal communities.
Taking her turn on the subject, the Acting Director in charge of Natural Resources at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Jewel Kudjawu, intimated that though she is of the opinion that enough awareness has been created, there remains a poor attitude towards marine conservancy.
She lamented poor domestic waste management, indiscriminate housing projects, aided by traditional authorities, among other human activities are rendering efforts to rid the oceans off filth futile.
She revealed that this year the United Nations Environment Assembly (UNEA), has decided to introduce a legally binding document on plastics, and she is hopeful when implemented by countries, the marine litter situation will be drastically mitigated.
She also disclosed the EPA is partnering with the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and other stakeholders such as the Fisheries Commission, the District Assemblies, to develop an integrated ocean management policy.
Mrs. Kudjawu said, “we have started working on it. We have a working group that has put the draft together. The draft will be taken to stakeholders to review so that they can make inputs, we revise and submit to cabinet for approval.”
He said a lot of these human activities is borne out of ignorance hence the need for increased awareness creation.
Climate Change & Energy
Marine Protection In Ghana: CIMAG Calls For Policy
Source: ghenvironment.com - June 15, 2022
By Rebecca Lartey
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September 8, 2022